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inhalation (e.g. with salbutamol, budenoside, DNase or acetylcysteine) is often an important component of therapy [1].

Plastic bronchitis is a rare serious, sometimes fatal complication often associated with primary respiratory diseases and concomitant heart surgeries and is characterized by formation of large, branching bronchial casts [1]. In addition to the symptomatic acute treatment, and often life-saving bronchoscopy to remove the bronchial casts, inhalation (e.g. with salbutamol, budenoside, DNase or acetylcysteine) is often an important component of therapy [1].

Possible primary diseases for bronchial casts

Asthma

Diseases of lymphs

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Sickle-cell disease

Bronchocentric granulomatosis

Heart faillure

Bronchiectasis

Constrictive pericarditis

Cystic fibrosis

Pericardial effusion

Tuberculosis

Mitral valve stenosis

Diphtheria

Rheumatoid arthritis

Amyloidosis

Pseudomembranous colitis

Tab. 1: Possible primary diseases for bronchial casts [1]

A successful therapy with the nebulized tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) Alteplase in plastic bronchitis is documented in the case report of M. Colaneri et al. A 13-year-old boy who suffers from primary ciliary dyskinesia and congenital heart disease developed a chronic oto-sino-pulmonary disease after a heart surgery. Exacerbations of his heart- and lung function demanded a hospitalisation including extubation, ventilation and bronchoscopy. Due to the failure of the initiated treatment with nebulized salbutamol, N-acetylcysteine, budesonide, DNase and oral sildenafil an additional inhalation with t-PA was induced (via the PARI LC SPRINT nebulizer). By thus a therapeutical success could be reached within the next few days since the bronchial secretions became thinner and respiratory symptoms did not recurred. The patient was discharged home receiving the recommendation to continue the inhalation with budesonide, DNase, t-PA and oral sildenafil in combination with physiotherapy.